6 Tips for Making the Most of your Yearly Milestone Photo Session

Milestone sessions are an excellent way to document important events in your life, such as birthdays, retirements, first days of school, and other yearly milestones. Many of these events happen once a year, making it even more important to capture them in photographs. It also allows you to look back to see how you and your family have changed over time!

Here are some tips to help you make the most out of your milestone session.

#1 – Choose the right location

The location of your photoshoot can greatly impact the overall look and feel of your photos. Consider a location that is meaningful to you or your family. If you’re taking photos to document your child’s birthday, consider selecting a location at a park that your child loves to play in or even inside your home. If it’s a retirement celebration, consider taking photos in the person’s backyard or in a place they love to visit.

Stumped on what location will work best? I’m more than happy to work with you to pick a location that fits your family, is close to home, and will look gorgeous in photos. You can also check out my #1 tip for picking the best location in Denver for your family photos. Spoiler alert – I don’t suggest choosing somewhere that’s an hour from home.

#2 – Be spontaneous and have fun

The best photos are often the ones that are spontaneous and capture your true emotions. Don’t be afraid to be silly and have fun during your session. Encourage your family members to be themselves and interact with each other naturally. Don’t be afraid to play. This will help create genuine moments that you’ll treasure for years to come.

#3 – Choosing what to wear

What you wear to your milestone session can also make a big difference in the overall look and feel of your photos. Choose outfits that reflect your personal style, are comfortable, and you feel confident in. Ensure you coordinate with your family members to create a cohesive look. I would suggest avoiding anything that has loud patterns, logos, or bright neon colors. Check out these three styling tips for selecting outfits for your session.

#4 – Incorporate the entire family

Even though this milestone session was to celebrate Jora’s second birthday, I strongly believe that it’s valuable to incorporate the entire family into the photoshoot. I find it important to capture the special bond that family members share, and what everyone looks like at this stage in Jora’s life. While Jora was the center of many photos, I also captured how she interacted with her brother, mom, and dad.

#5 – Don’t forget about the details

Milestone sessions can certainly include little details that make the milestone special and unique. You could consider including your child’s new backpack or special outfit for the first day of school session. Or providing a cake, balloons, and simple backdrop for a one-year-old cake smash photo shoot.

My recommendation is to keep props to a minimum though. Less is more because we want the emotions and natural background to be the focus of the images. If you’re interested in including props, I’m happy to advise on colors and styles that will look best and translate well in images. Adding details or props is certainly not a requirement to make your images special, but some families have items that really mean a lot to them and including them in your images is a great way to preserve the memory.

#6 – Hire a professional

When it comes to milestone sessions, hiring a professional photographer is the best way to ensure that you get the results you want. I have the experience and expertise to help guide you through the process and create stunning images that you’ll love. I have tons of experience working with Littles, getting them comfortable in front of the camera, and capturing their fun, unique personalities. I also work well with larger family groups who might want to schedule a photo session to celebrate a retirement or important birthday.

Regardless of what milestone you’d like to celebrate, my goal is to capture your family’s true personality and to make the session super fun. By following these tips, you’ll be able to make the most out of your photoshoot and together we’ll create beautiful images that you’ll cherish for years to come.